Punjab to introduce new wheat procurement policy

LAHORE: Punjab Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said the new wheat procurement policy is the need of the hour to provide maximum relief to farmers and the poor in the country.

Abdul Aleem Khan expressed these views while presiding over a meeting on the new wheat procurement policy. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik, secretaries of different departments and others.

Speaking at the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said that the new policy would benefit not only the farmers but also the poor. He said that targeted subsidy would be given on wheat to provide relief to low-income people.

The Chief Secretary constituted a committee to prepare the recommendations on ending financial pressures on the government in the procurement process, reducing millers’ reliance on the government, best economic return to farmers, direct subsidy to the poor people, control on prices, strategic reserves of wheat, its inter-provincial transport and exports.

The committee comprising secretaries of the departments of Agriculture, Food, Planning and Development and Finance would formulate its recommendations within three days which will be submitted to Prime Minister Imran Khan for final approval.

The committee will also make suggestions on how to implement the new procurement policy.

Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Noman Langrial presented their proposals on the new wheat procurement policy.